Al Nusrah Front claims 5 suicide attacks in Syria in past month

Banner for the Al Nusrah Front, a jihadist group in Syria. Image from the SITE Intelligence Group.

The Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group that is fighting Bashri al Assad’s regime in Syria, has claimed credit for five suicide attacks over the past month. Jihadist groups have now executed an estimated 30 suicide attacks in Syria since December 2011.

The Al Nusrah Front claimed credit for the five attacks in a series of statements that were released over the past month by the Al Manara al Baydha’ Foundation for Media Production on jihadist web forums. The statements were translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Additionally, the terror group has claimed credit for numerous conventional attacks, including IED attacks and ambushes, against Syrian security forces, government officials, and a government-backed militia.

The attacks took place in Aleppo, Abu Kamal near the Iraqi border, Deir al Zour, Hama, and Aleppo. While four of the five attacks have not been confirmed in the media, many of Al Nusrah’s claims of attacks in the past have matched media accounts.

On Aug. 28, Al Nusrah claimed it executed a suicide attack “against a large gathering inside the new Equestrian Club” in Hama, according to SITE. Al Nusrah claimed the club was being used as “the headquarters of the Nusayri [Alawhite] army” and that “more than 500 elements, most of whom are from the Fourth Group, police, and shabiha” were based there. The group did not give an estimate of the number of people killed and wounded in the attack. The attack was not reported in the media.

On Sept. 4, Al Nusrah claimed it carried out a complex attack at the airport at Abu Kamal. A suicide bomber known as Abu Khattab al Shami detonated his explosives-packed car after he “immersed in the ranks of the enemies of Allah.” Following the blast, “the martyrdom-seeking storming brigade began targeting the airport with mortar shells, 12.5 and 14.5 [caliber] machine guns, and sniper rifles.” No casualties were reported, and the attack was not reported in the media.

On Sept. 2, Al Nusrah released a statement claiming that “a martyrdom-seeker from the brigade of martyrdom-seekers” targeted the “Ibn Wardan barrier in Hama governorate.” The date of the attack was not provided, and no estimate of casualties was given. Al Nusrah said that 45 soldiers were based at the outpost, which it claimed was “turned … into a pile.”

In another attack, which appears to have occurred on Sept. 8, Abu Abdullah al Shami attacked “a large gathering of the Nusayri enemy in al Haya hospital” in Aleppo. The suicide attack was confirmed by SANA, the official news agency of the Syrian regime, which claimed that 27 soldiers were killed and 64 more were wounded. Al Nusrah claimed that “more than 200 individuals among officers and soldiers” were killed, according to SITE.

And on Sept. 11, Al Nusrah released a statement claiming that Abu al Farooq al Shamali bombed “the fortress of the enemies” in al Bareed al Thani in Deir al Zour. The number of those killed and wounded in the attack was not disclosed, and the attack was not reported in the media.

Jihadist groups in Syria

The al Qaeda-linked Al Nusrah Front has now claimed responsibility for 23 of the 30 suicide bombings in Syria that the The Long War Journal has tallied since December 2011. For more information on the suicide attacks in Syria, see LWJ report, Suicide bombings become commonplace in Syria.

Additionally, Al Nusrah has claimed credit for hundreds of conventional attacks in addition to the suicide attacks.

Al Nusrah is known to conduct joint operations with the Free Syrian Army, the main group in Syria that is held up as the secular opposition to the Assad regime. In August, Al Nusrah said it attacked a police station outside of Damascus along with the Al Sahaba Battalion, a unit of the Free Syrian Army that operates in the capital. According to The Guardian, jihadist groups such as Al Nusrah have become more appealing to Syrian rebels as they are better organized and have expertise from waging jihad in Iraq and elsewhere, and have integrated their operations with the Free Syrian Army.

Besides the Al Nusrah Front, other al Qaeda-affiliated groups, such as Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, also operate in Syria. In addition, still other al Qaeda-style groups, such as the Al Baraa Ibn Malik Martyrdom Brigade, which has claimed that it will use suicide attacks, and the Omar al Farouq Brigade, have appeared in Syria as well.

The dates given below are, in most cases, the dates of the attacks. In a few cases, when the date of a claimed attack is unknown, the date of Al Nusrah’s claim of responsibility is used.

Dec. 23, 2011 – Two car bombings in Damascus on this day are the first known suicide attacks in Syria since the rebellion began nine months earlier. The attacks targeted the regime’s intelligence offices, killing at least 44 people and wounding more than 160 others. According to the National Counterterrorism Center, it is likely that two female suicide bombers deployed by Al Qaeda in Iraq were responsible.

Mar. 17, 2012 – Two suicide car bombings killed at least 27 people and wounded 100 or more in Damascus. The bombings targeted the Assad regime’s security forces. The Al Nusrah Front later claimed responsibility for the bombings and released a video, translated by SITE, showing the two bombers giving speeches before their attacks.

Apr. 20, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked Syrian military forces dining at a restaurant in Hama. The Al Nusrah Front later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the Syrian forces targeted had massacred civilians in a nearby town.

Apr. 27, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked at a mosque in the Midan neighborhood of Damascus. The attack reportedly killed 11 people and wounded 28 more. The Al Nusrah Front later claimed responsibility, saying the attack targeted regime personnel who were attending prayers.

Apr. 30, 2012 – In an apparent attack on Syrian military intelligence services, two bombs are detonated in the town of Idlib. According to Reuters, state-controlled media said that nine people were killed, with 100 more wounded, and two suicide bombers were responsible. An “activist” said that 20 people were killed. The Associated Press also attributed the attack to suicide bombers.

May 10, 2012 – Two suicide car bomb attacks killed at least 55 people and wounded more than 370 others in Damascus. According to the BBC, the “blasts happened near a military intelligence building during morning rush hour.” Days later, it appeared that Al Nusrah claimed credit for the attacks in a video online. Subsequently, however, Al Nusrah denied the validity of the video, saying it had not been published by the group’s official media arm.

May 19, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked the Syrian intelligence services in Deir al-Zor. According to Reuters, the state news agency said that nine people were killed and approximately 100 others were wounded. The Al Nusrah Front later claimed responsibility for the bombing.

June 1, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked a Syrian military camp in Idlib. The suicide bomber’s attack was just one component of the complex assault, which also involved an ambush and IED attacks. The Al Nusrah Front later claimed responsibility for the raid.

June 7, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying state security personnel in Aleppo. The Al Nusrah Front claimed responsibility for the operation.

June 14, 2012 – A suicide bomber attacked state security services outside of Damascus. The Al Nusrah Front claimed responsibility for the attack and said that “many” security personnel were killed.

June 26, 2012 – The Al Nusrah Front claims that it conducted two suicide bombings against Syrian military forces on this day. The terrorist organization also claimed that 250 Syrian soldiers were killed in the attacks, according to translations prepared by SITE. The Long War Journal did not find independent verification for the high number of casualties claimed by the Al Nusrah Front.

June 30, 2012 – In a statement dated this day, the Al Nusrah Front claimed that a suicide bomber attacked a security barrier in Daraa, a town in southern Syria. The group did not say when the attack took place. On Mar. 3, a car bomb was detonated near a military checkpoint in Daraa. The Syrian government claimed it was a suicide attack that killed two people; opposition forces denied that it was a suicide attack. According to a local resident interviewed by Reuters, at least seven people were killed and eight more were wounded. It is unclear if the Mar. 3 attack is the same one claimed by Al Nusrah.

July 18, 2012 – A bomb killed senior Syrian military and intelligence officials. There are conflicting reports as to whether a suicide bombing or a remote-controlled explosive device was used in the attack. Among those killed was Assef Shawkat, the deputy defense minister and former head of Syrian military intelligence. Shawkat, who was the brother-in-law of Bashar al Assad, had supported AQI for years.

July 19, 2012 – In a statement released online days later, the Al Nusrah Front claimed it launched a suicide operation targeting a security barrier in Ma’arat al-Nu’man that killed 60 Syrian soldiers on this day.

Aug. 7, 2012 – In a statement released on this day, the Al Nusrah Front said that a suicide bomber targeted “a military security detachment … in the area of Mhardeh in the Hama countryside.” It is not clear what day the actual attack took place.

Aug. 17, 2012 – The Al Nusrah Front claims that a suicide bomber attacked a gathering of 600 regime “thugs” in Hama on this day. The total number of casualties was not reported.

Aug. 28, 2012 – Al Nusrah claimed it executed a suicide attack “against a large gathering inside the new Equestrian Club” in Hama. The total number of casualties was not reported.

Sept. 2, 2012 – In a statement released on this day, Al Nusrah claims that a suicide bomber attacked the “Ibn Wardan barrier in Hama governorate.” The total number of casualties was not reported.

Sept. 4, 2012 – A suicide bomber known as Abu Khattab al Shami detonated his explosives-packed car at the airport at Abu Kamal. Fighters then launched a follow-on attack. The total number of casualties was not reported.

Sept. 11, 2012 – Al Nusrah released a statement claiming that Abu al Farooq al Shamali bombed “the fortress of the enemies” in al Bareed al Thani in Deir al Zour. The number of those killed and wounded in the attack was not disclosed.